Law and Nurture

Essay

It begins by discussing the people we shepherd and nurture. When we eventually lead a ministry or care for others, we don't only encounter individuals of the type we desire. While we might hope to work with mature sheep, the ones God entrusts to us can be young lambs or early believers who carry many wounds.

The key point is that the one who chooses the sheep is not us, but Jesus. A shepherd is not someone who only cares for those who fit personal preferences. Instead, we accept the people Jesus entrusts to us as our mission, feeding and caring for them according to their condition.

Recall the flow of John chapter 21. Jesus tells Peter to feed the lambs, to tend the sheep, and to feed the sheep. There is a subtle distinction here. We shouldn’t approach all sheep the same way; we need to differentiate between young lambs and mature sheep, and between feeding and guiding them.

A young lamb is a newborn sheep. It may be someone new in faith, wounded, dependent, and uncertain about their identity. If we impose rigorous training and responsibilities too soon, they can falter. At this stage, what they need most is love.

I can give a personal example. I once thought about training someone as a minister and approached them with that mindset for a day. That person was immediately hurt and remained silent for a long time. My intention was to improve their rhythm and attitude to become a better drummer, but their stage was not one for training—they needed love first.

So young lambs need tenderness. Though this phrase might sound light, it reflects an essential pastoral sensitivity. People whose identity is shaken need to hear, "You’re doing well," "You’re okay," and "You are loved." Experiencing unconditional love first is necessary before they can accept the discipline of the next stage.

Mature sheep, on the other hand, must be treated differently. Adult sheep can move independently and take responsibility. Some people grow more when given responsibility. If we only feed them without entrusting any responsibility, their growth may be hindered. Mature sheep need direction, responsibility, and guidance to serve alongside others.

Discernment is crucial for the pastor here. Some people need love and nourishment, while others require discipline and responsibility. Applying one approach uniformly can cause problems. If you always treat everyone the same way, you may not fully understand their stage or needs.

Churches can also be categorized. A restorative church attracts many wounded and immature people. A nurturing and growth-oriented church focuses on explaining the foundations and principles of faith, providing stability and training. A mature partnership church aims for responsible individuals to share in the mission together. None of these alone constitutes the body of Christ, nor are the others wrong.

Therefore, do not judge churches carelessly. Some churches serve as places of restoration, others focus on nurturing, and still others raise up mature partners. Even a church that seems lacking in my eyes may be fulfilling a necessary role within the body of Christ before God.

Next, we must move on to the structure of the gospel. The Mosaic covenant and the new covenant do not operate in the same way. The covenant structures of the Old Testament and the New Testament differ. When we say Jesus came to fulfill the law, it does not mean we are now able to perfectly keep all the law.

To say the law is fulfilled means its purpose has been accomplished in Jesus. What the law pointed to, what the sacrificial system anticipated, what the temple and priesthood symbolized—all have been realized in Christ. Therefore, in Jesus, some parts of the law have been set aside, and some parts have been fulfilled so that they can no longer be repeated in the old way.

The clearest example is sacrifice. Old Testament sacrifices were repetitive. But Jesus’ cross was a once-for-all sacrifice. Therefore, offering animal sacrifices again in the New Testament era is to insult the blood of Jesus. Sacrifice has structurally ended in Christ.

The temple is similar. The temple was central in the Old Testament, but in the new covenant, Christ is central. Christ is the true temple, and the church and believers in Christ are the temple. Now, God's presence is not confined to a single building but revealed in Christ and in His body, the community.

The function of the law has also changed. Many Old Testament regulations operated within Israel’s religious state and temple system. But under the new covenant, external compliance is not the standard of righteousness. Faith is the standard. What fundamentally changes a person is not grabbing more regulations but the internal work of the Holy Spirit.

However, this does not mean the law has no value. That is an extreme view. The law reveals sin, displays God's holiness, and makes us realize that we cannot be righteous on our own. The law functions like a mirror, showing us the dirty spots.

But a mirror cannot wash a person. The law reveals sin, but the power to cleanse sin and give life lies in the gospel, the Holy Spirit, and the new life within us. Therefore, the law is certainly beneficial, but its commandments themselves do not give life.

The issue of tithing must be understood within this structure. In the Old Testament, tithing was connected to the temple, the Levite tribe, and the theocratic structure of Israel. In the New Testament era, voluntary giving and stewardship take a more central role. This is not to say that tithing has no meaning, nor is it a criticism of churches that teach tithing.

The important point is the stage of the individual. For some, tithing serves as a basic standard and a training in faith. But some mature believers, aware that everything they have belongs to God, give more broadly, share more, and dedicate themselves more fully. Simply telling such a person "You must tithe" may not fit their stage of faith.

For example, imagine a group of fully committed CEOs. They have a deep awareness of dedicating their lives, finances, and businesses to God and may already give well beyond a tenth. Speaking to them only as you would to a beginner believer is pastorally inappropriate.

So the key is flexible discernment. We must understand the structure of law and gospel and simultaneously see where a person is in their journey. We should offer love and nourishment to lambs, responsibility and direction to growing sheep, and deeper mission and freedom to mature coworkers.

We cannot choose whom God entrusts to us. It could be a lamb like a fetus, a young lamb, or a mature sheep. Therefore, a minister must not prepare only one approach. They should be ready to serve effectively at whatever stage a person is.

Ultimately, the benefit of the law and the core of the gospel must be held together. The law benefits by revealing sin and helping us discern God's will. But the gospel gives life, the Spirit transforms people, and the new covenant calls us on the path of faith and inner change. Pastors must feed, care for, and build up people according to their stage within this gospel framework.

Content Notes

1. A pastor cannot choose only the sheep they want.

The people God entrusts to you may not be the mature sheep you expect. They might be lambs, or early believers with many wounds. A pastor accepts as mission the people Jesus entrusts to them.

2. Lambs need love and feeding first.

Lambs might be new believers, wounded individuals, or dependent people. Demanding strong discipline and responsibility from them right away can deepen their wounds. They need to be loved for who they are, given stability, and nurtured first.

3. Encouragement can also be pastorally necessary.

Even a light compliment can carry an essential message of 'You’re doing well,' 'You’re okay,' 'You are loved' for certain people. For those whose sense of self is fragile, love must come before discipline.

4. Mature sheep need responsibility and direction.

Mature believers can move on their own and take responsibility. For such people, feeding alone is not enough; we must guide them, entrust them with responsibilities, and lead them to serve alongside others.

5. Nurture according to the individual's stage.

You cannot approach everyone in the same way. Some need love, others need training, and some need a mission. A one-size-fits-all approach may indicate a lack of pastoral discernment.

6. Each church may have different roles.

Restorative churches, nurturing growth churches, and mature partnership churches each may serve different roles. One church might not fulfill all roles. Therefore, do not judge churches carelessly.

7. The Mosaic covenant and the new covenant do not operate in the same way.

The covenant structure of the Old Testament differs from that of the New Testament. When we say Jesus fulfilled the law, it doesn't mean we perfectly keep every law as it was, but that the law’s purpose was accomplished in Christ.

8. The sacrificial system ended with Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice.

The sacrifices of the Old Testament were repeated continually, but Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was a single, definitive offering. Therefore, offering animal sacrifices again in the New Testament era insults the blood of Jesus. The sacrificial law has been fundamentally fulfilled in Christ.

9. The focus of worship has shifted to Christ and the Church.

While the Old Testament centered on the temple, the New Covenant centers on Christ. Christ is the true temple, and the church and believers in Christ are the living temple.

10. The standard of righteousness is faith, not law-keeping.

Under the Old Testament's religious-national structure, adherence to the law was the key standard. But in the New Covenant, righteousness is defined by faith. What truly transforms a person is not external rules but the inner work of the Holy Spirit.

11. The law is not worthless.

It is extreme to dismiss the law as completely worthless. The law reveals sin, highlights God's holiness, and makes us aware that we cannot justify ourselves.

12. The law is a mirror, but it is not a medicine.

A mirror can reveal dirt but cannot wash it away. The law exposes sin, but the power to cleanse and give life resides in the gospel, the Holy Spirit, and new life.

13. The tithe must be understood within the framework of the New Covenant.

The Old Testament tithe was connected to the temple, the tribe of Levi, and the religious-national structure of Israel. In the New Testament, voluntary giving and a spirit of stewardship take precedence. This is neither an argument to abolish the tithe nor a critique of churches that teach it.

14. Mature believers need a broader language of commitment.

For some, the tithe serves as foundational training, but mature Christians often live with the awareness that everything they have belongs to God. For such individuals, a deeper language of stewardship and mission is required beyond simple rules.

15. Ministers must be prepared to minister to diverse groups of people.

We cannot know which stage of spiritual growth God will entrust to us: those like unborn lambs, young lambs, grown lambs, or mature coworkers. Ministers need to be equipped to serve people at various stages, not just one.

16. We must hold fast to both the benefit of the law and the life of the gospel together.

The law serves the purpose of revealing sin and discerning God's will. Yet true life is found in the gospel, and transformation happens through the Spirit. A pastor must understand this dynamic to feed, heal, and build up people effectively.